BEB Weekend Sports: News!

Maradona laid to rest in Buenos Aires

Football legend Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Only around two dozen relatives and close friends attended the final ceremony on Thursday.

But earlier huge crowds turned out to pay their respects, with many weeping, blowing kisses and praying as they filed past his coffin.

Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60. His death triggered mourning around the world but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero.

Maradona's coffin - draped in Argentina's national flag and football shirt, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back - was on public display at the presidential palace on Thursday.

Hazard injured again as Madrid lose at home

Eden Hazard suffered another injury setback as Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 at home by Alaves in La Liga.

Hazard, making only his third league start of the season and fourth in all competitions, was substituted after just 28 minutes with a leg injury.

Lucas Perez's fifth-minute penalty put Alaves in front after Victor Laguardia's header struck Nacho's arm.

Joselu then slotted into an open goal after keeper Thibaut Courtois' bad pass before Casemiro's late consolation.

A third league game without victory for Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid side leaves them fourth in the table, six points behind Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid and two behind third-placed Valencia.

Hazard, 29, joined Real Madrid from Chelsea for a fee in excess of £150m in 2019.

But the Belgium international has made just 27 appearances for Zidane's side since his big-money move.

Hazard missed the start of the season with a muscular injury to his right leg and managed three appearances before testing positive for coronavirus at the start of November.

He has since started against Villarreal on 21 November and scored a penalty in Wednesday's Champions League win over Inter Milan, playing 65 and 78 minutes respectively in those matches.

But the forward lasted for less than half an hour on Saturday, suffering another leg problem on a frustrating night for Real at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium.

France to face England in the Rugby Autumn Nations Cup final

England will face France in the Autumn Nations Cup final after Les Bleus comfortably beat Italy in Paris.

Missing several key players because of an agreement with the country's Top 14 league, France fell behind after Italy's Carlo Canna scored.

But Les Bleus recovered to earn a four-try bonus point, with debutant Gabin Villiere's solo effort the most impressive of their scores. France play England at Twickenham in front of 2,000 fans on 6 December.

The result leaves Scotland second in Group B, with their opponent on the final weekend most likely to be Ireland as long as Andy Farrell's side do not suffer a heavy defeat to Georgia on Sunday.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off at the Stade de France after the death of French rugby legend Christophe Dominici, with a banner in the stands reading 'Merci Domi'.

France took the lead through three points from Matthieu Jalibert but Italy soon responded as 20-year-old fly-half Paolo Garbisi, falling to the floor, managed to get the ball to Canna, allowing the centre to go over for the side's only try.

The Top 14 agreement means players were only available for three fixtures this autumn so France coach Fabien Galthie named 11 uncapped men in his matchday 23.

They turned the tide against Italy nevertheless, as Jonathan Danty showed incredible power to drive over the line after a dominant French scrum.

Joyce stuns Dubois to move closer to world-title shot

Joe Joyce landed a big upset and took a huge step towards a world heavyweight title shot by stopping Daniel Dubois in a captivating contest in London.

Joyce, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, used his jab expertly to build telling damage over Dubois' eye.

Dubois landed his own fine work but was distressed by his eye between rounds.

And with the bout in the balance, a simple jab from Joyce prompted Dubois to pause before taking a knee in round 10 when he failed to beat the count.

The surreal finish at Westminster's Church House underlined the discomfort Dubois had dealt with for around half the fight and, without question, Joyce must be praised for soaking up punches in a display where he was as disciplined as he was accurate.

Dubois - who was quickly taken to hospital for a check on his eye - told BT Sport:

"He caught me with a good jab - I couldn't see out of the eye. It just happens."

from Bola Esho's Blog